Clothes-line stretcher.



S. N. BUNNELL.

CLOTHES LINESTRETCHER.

APPLICATION FILED Ammo. ms.

- 1,158,172. Patented Oct. 26, 1915.

5.N.BUNNEL\:"

93% N. SJM

6H0: mug

COLUMBIA PLAN oooooooooooooooooooooooo c,

SAMUEL N. BUNNELL, OF TOMS RIVER, NEW JERSEY.

CLGTHES-LINE STRETCHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Get. 26, 1915.

Application filed August 10, 1915. Serial No. 44,713.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, SAMUEL N. BUNNELL,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Toms River, in the county ofOcean and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Clothes- Line Stretchers, of which the following is aspecification.

The present invention relates to a clothes line stretcher, and has forits object to provide a device of this character which will eliminatethe necessity for employing props to lift the clothes line after theclothes have been applied thereto, and which embodies novel features ofconstruction whereby the line may be readily tightened so as to removeall slack therefrom and lift the clothes well above the ground.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a clothes line tightenerwhich is comparatively simple and inexpensive in its construction, whichcan be readily applied as an attachment to a clothes line post, whichcan be easily and quickly manipulated to tighten or loosen the line asmay be desired, which can be locked in an adjusted position, and whichwill not injure the line or interfere with hanging the clothes thereonin any manner.

WVith these and other objects in view, the

invention consists in certain novel combina-- tions and arrangements ofthe parts as will more fully appear as the description proceeds, thenovel features thereof being pointed out in the appended claims.

For a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to thefollowing description and accompanying drawing, in wh1ch:

Figure 1 1s a side elevation of a clothes line tightener constructed inaccordance with the invention, showing the same as mounted upon aclothes line post and in engagement with a clothes line. Fig. 2 is aview of the upper end of the post upon which the clothes line tighteneris mounted, looking at the same from a position at right angles to thatof Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the device. Fig. f is ahorizontal sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2, looking in thedirection of the arrows. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the upper end ofthe device, with portions broken away and shown in section to illustratemore clearly the details of construction.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in all the views of the drawing by the samereference characters.

Referring to the drawings, which illustrate one embodiment of theinvention, the numeral 1 designates an ordinary clothes line which isconnected at its ends to suitable supports such as the post 2. Arrangedat an intermediate position between the end posts 2 is a center post 3upon which the line tightening mechanism is mounted. An upper bearingbracket al-"is applied to the top of the center post 3, while a similarbearing bracket 5 is let into and secured to the post at a point underthe upper bracket 4. A vertical shaft 6 is journaled within the twobearing brackets 4L and 5 and has spaced relation to the post, the uppereX- tremity of the shaft projecting above the bracket 5 and the top ofthe bracket being flush with the upper end of the post.

Removably applied to the upper eXtremity of the shaft v6 is a sphericalhead or ball 7, the base of the spherical head being slightly flattenedso as to rest upon the top of the bracket a, while a pair of divergingarms or fingers 8 project upwardly from the top of the spherical head.Corresponding lateral openings are provided in the spherical head 7 andthe upper end of the vertical shaft 6 for the reception of a pin 9 whichremovably and detachably connects the spherical head to the shaft.

Keyed upon or otherwise made rigid with the lower end of the verticalshaft 6 is a toothed wheel 10 which rests upon the upper surface of thelower bearing bracket 5. The lower bracket 5 is shown as having anintegral upward extension 11 which is let into the side of the centerpost 3 with its rear face flush with the rear face of the bracket 5,said extension having a pair of vertical swinging pawls 12 pivotallymounted upon the opposite sides thereof. Either one of these pawls canbe swung downwardly into a horizontal position so as to engage the teethof the wheel 10 and cooperate therewith to lock the vertical shaft 6against-rotation. The device may thus be held in an adjusted position,although by swinging both of the pawls 12 up into a vertical position,the shaft 6 may be rotated to tighten or loosen the clothes as desired.

Rigid with the toothed wheel 10 and surrounding the vertical shaft 6 isan upwardly projecting polygonal boss or collar 13. A correspondingpolygonal ring 14: fits removably upon the polygonal collar 13 and isprovided with a lateral stem 15 adapted to be detachably engaged by oneend of a tubular handle 16. When not in use, the tubular handle 16 canbe removed from the stem 15 and suspended upon the post 3 in somesuitable manner. In the present instance the tubular handle has atapered formation and is adapted to be engaged by an eye 17 projectinglaterally from one side of the post. The polygonal ring 1 1, asindicated by dotted lines on Fig. 2, can be readily lifted above thepolygonal. collar 13 and rotated independently thereof, thereby enablingthe ring to be brought into engagement with the polygonal collar withthe lever or handle in a different position.

The two diverging arms 8 which project upwardly fromthe spherical head 7at the top of the vertical shaft 6 provide a fork for the reception ofan intermediate portion of the clothes line 1. Suflicient slack isinitially allowed in the clothes line so that it will sag in the desiredmanner when applying clothes to the line or removing them therefrom.After the clothes have been applied to the line, the operator fits thehandle 16 on the stem 15 0f the polygonal ring 1 1 and by bringing thesame successively into engagement with the polygonal collar 13 isenabled to rotate the shaft 6 and swing the line 1 around the prongs orarms 8 so as to take up the slack in the line. After the line has beenthus tightened, one of the pawls 12 can be swung downwardly intoengagement with the toothed wheel 10 so as to lock the vertical shaftagainst backward rotation. The clothes are thus lifted well above theground, without the necessity of using any props, and when it is desiredto remove the clothes the line is unwound from the prongs 8 at the topof the spherical head 7 by exactly the reverse of the above describedoperation. The outer sides of the prongs or arms 8 converge downwardlytoward the top of the spherical head 7 so that the tension produced inthe line 1 will tend to force the portions of the line wound around theprongs downwardly upon the head. The spherical head 7 itself providesalarge base to support the portions of line which may be wound upon theprongs, and all sharp angles or corners upon which the line might catchwhen revolving the vertical shaft are avoided. There is thus littledanger of the line slipping over the upper ends of the prongs 8 when thedevice is being operated, and the convolutions of the line about theprongs are supported in such a manner that they will not rub against afixed case or bracket and be subjected to unnecessary wear. By removingthe spherical head 7 from the upper end of the vertical shaft (5, thelower end of the shaft may be lifted out of engagement with the lowerbracket 5, and the shaft then tilted at a slight angle and drawndownwardly out of engagement with the upper bracket 4:. The device canthus be easily and quickly dismounted at any time when such may becomedesirable.

Although the line tightener has been described as applied to a post soas to engage an intermediate point in the line, it will be understoodthat the line tightener may be applied to a house or other support atthe end of the line, if desired.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

l. A clothes line tightener including a vertical shaft, supportingbearings for the shaft, a head at the upper end of the shaft, a pair ofprongs projecting upwardly from the head and adapted to receive theclothes line between the same, means for rotating the shaft to wind theclothes line around the prongs and take up the slack therein, and meansfor locking the shaft against backward rotation.

2. A clothes line tightener including a vertical shaft, supportingbearings for the shaft, a spherical head applied to the upper end of theshaft, a pair of spaced prongs projecting upwardly from the top of thespherical head and adapted to receive the clothes line between the same,means for rotating the shaft to wind the clothes line about the prongs,the portion of the line wound around the prongs resting upon thespherical head, and means for locking the vertical shaft againstbackward rotation.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

SAMUEL N. BUNNELL.

\Vitnesses Roy GowDY, (J. M. IRONS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). C.

